Bourne Blue Architecture
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
Seal Rocks is a small, unique village. Many existing dwellings are basic weatherbeaten fishing shacks, now mostly used for holidays. Named ‘Kurreki’, ('Bush Myrtle' in the Worimi language), the feel of the house is one of luxury camping. The intention was to build an uncomplicated holiday house, which could also be let out for rental income. The existing original cottages are slowly being lost as properties change hands, so the approach was to build in a way that retains the language of the existing built forms of Seal Rocks and to be respectful of context.
Design concept and solution:
There is a gentle rise on the site to the rear and an outlook to the bush, front and rear. The Rural Fire Service placed a 10-meter setback to the rear, enforced a fire fence, and dictated that all the buildings in the street had to be partly flame zone and have level-three bushfire protection. The building is oriented toward the central space to minimize the amount of external glazing, thus reducing the amount of expensive bushfire treatments. It improves the sense of privacy and enclosure to the outdoor living area. The surrounding internal roof edge allows protected circulation under the eaves, reduces the built form, and blurs the indoor/outdoor transition. It also frames a sky view animated at night by the lighthouse beam passing overhead. 
The ability to close the outer perimeter makes all rooms able directly accessible to the central deck, allowing dwellers to sleep under mosquito nets with a view of the night sky. A wide shaded entry foyer is for storage of surfboards, hanging towels, and wetsuits, while a shower nearby reduces sand spreading throughout the house.
Materials throughout relate to the context of the village, are economical, and corrosion resistant. The walls are lined with 9mm CFC cladding and aluminium channels, much like the existing buildings of fibro and cover batten. Locally milled blackbutt decking and custom orb roofing are other dominant materials that are consistent with the existing buildings in the region. Construction methods and detailing are intentionally basic. Steel is avoided and items such as the plastic external light fittings were chosen both for economy and long life. Floors are polished particleboard, all joinery uses formply as a finished face. The exterior colors are simple—grey and silver—while the interior is colorful, inspired by rockpools and neighbouring bush.
Total construction cost: $275,000
the PeopleOwnerRachael Bourne and Shane Blue Architect Bourne Blue Architecture pty ltd PO box 295, Newcastle NSW 2300 Australia Ph 61 2 4929 1450 Fax 61 2 4927 1623 Rachael Bourne and Shane Blue Interior designer: Rachael Bourne Engineer(s): Tony Dockrill – Izzat Consulting Engineers Consultant(s) Landscape: Bourne Blue Architecture pty ltd Lighting: Bourne Blue Architecture pty ltd General contractor: Bruce Brown Sugar Creek Building Photographer Brett Boardman 61 2 9516 1656 CAD system, project management, or other software used: archicad | the ProductsStructural systemConcrete block base walls, timber framed floor walls and roof Exterior cladding Masonry: Face concrete block basewall EIFS, ACM, or other: 9mm compressed cement sheet Roofing Metal: Custom orb colorbond corrugated metal sheeting Windows Aluminum: 25 micron clear anodized aluminium windows Glazing Glass: Clear toughened Insulated-panel or plastic glazing: Aircell insulation Doors Entrances: Blackbutt lined entry door Metal doors: Glazed aluminium framed doors Special doors (sound control, X-ray, etc.): Zincalume steel roller shutters Interior finishes Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Laminex benchtop to kitchen, all exposed joinery faced with concrete formply, no finish Paints and stains: Murobond pure acrylic paints Wallcoverings: Plasterboard No tiling at all, blackbutt decking panel above waterproofed tray for wet areas, flat zincalume sheeting for wet area walls Raised flooring: Polished particleboard floor Furnishings Ikea Lighting Interior ambient lighting: Ikea Plumbing AA worm farms wet composting worm farm – this is the onsite sewer treatment system. There is 27000L of water storage to collect rainwater for the water supply. There is 15000L of water storage for firefighting. |
